Giants reportedly sign Brad Penny

Brad Penny is a Giant, according to SI.com. I haven’t been able to confirm the report through official channels yet, but I’ve also got no reason to doubt its veracity. The Giants curiously left a hole in their rotation Wednesday, so I’d imagine they were all set on an agreement when Penny cleared waivers at 2 p.m. EDT today.

Penny was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts for the Boston Red Sox before he was placed on release waivers. As you’d expect, he didn’t take well to the American League. He’s still a pitcher who’s been around the block and might have something left in the tank. His experience alone makes him an upgrade over Joe Martinez, who was optioned to Triple-A Fresno after getting pounded Thursday.

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The Giants are only on the hook for a prorated portion of the minimum salary, which is barely $100,000, and they didn’t have to part with any talent to get Penny. So this would be an extremely low-risk move.

The Giants need a starter for Wednesday because they bumped back Tim Lincecum’s start (he threw 127 pitches in his last outing) to Thursday to give him an extra day of rest.

Andrew Baggarly

Andrew Baggarly has witnessed and documented the most eventful era in San Francisco Giants baseball history, having covered the team since 2004 for th​ree major media outlets including the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune​. This will be his 20th season as a baseball writer.
​Baggarly is the author of the bestselling book, A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. A second title, Giant Splash, is due to be published by Triumph Books in April 2015.
Baggarly’s other notable life accomplishments include running as the Bratwurst in the Milwaukee Sausage Race and becoming a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

If Penny is dealing, he can pitch game two of the @LAD (and we don’t have to skip him). If not, he can slide to start the @Arizona series. Overall though, this lets stay on track to go with our big 3 vs. COL…

bigbullship

now the giants need a hitter to get thu waivers…any hitter…I agree this is a good pick-up- no risk…and he maybe able to help in the pen during the playoffs…I would rather see him come in to get an out or 2 than say miller or romo…

GoGyrosWin!

Does he hit for power? Oh…wait…umm…never mind… Hope he can contribute in this last month. He will be auditioning for a new contract next year so he should be more than motivated to end the year well and beat the Dodgers! Go Giants!

UglyFinder

Penny can’t be any worse than what Martinez and Sadowski have given us, I guess. Anyway, #2, I really like those odds. It’s like we barely have a weak spot in the rotation any more…We can get a 5+ win streak going.

stormin9

A career winning record. Knows the NL. He gives the aura of being a real A-hole. Is he just a red ass a la Jeff Kent. I hope he will fit in. We’ll see what he’s got to give….

totalfan62

Andy, nice to have you back. Hope you had a good weekend. We really missed you! Carl Steward did a good job filling in, but with every post during this awesome weekend, I wondered what you would have to say, and also missed your insights and anecdotes.

September baseball and we’re tied for WC lead. How Sweet It Is!

GO GIANTS!!

Oh yeah–Penny is definitely a great move. He’s better than anything else we have for #5 hole, and as noted in earlier posts, low-risk and high possible reward.

UglyFinder

This may be useless information, but he’s no dummy with the bat, it seems. In ’07 he batted .246 with 16 in 65 at-bats. That’s pretty dang good for a pitcher.

why not! sounds good as long as none of the guys that work in the clubhouse place a wager with him. should be an upgrade to the back end.
go giants!

Andrew Baggarly

It just occurred to me…if indeed Penny signs, two-fifths of the Giants rotation has dated Alyssa Milano!

MSW1

Hey, you can’t beat the price, and he’s got experience. This is a good one.

And, BTW, no one can complain about the Gs not picking up a hitter off waivers when there haven’t been any!

MSW1

Very nice pull, Andy!

Mike W

Penny’s a well-documented clubhouse cancer who better pitch well given what the team will have to swallow in terms of attitude and abrasiveness. Hope there’s enough veteran leadership to keep in line…

Jingles

gm you don’t measure sadowski when he was the unknown. you measure the sadowski that now has a book on him, where his longest outing went 5 innings. and yes, i think penny is capable of pitching without getting knocked out before the 5th inning.

more than anything, the giants don’t need a 5th starter that’s not going to lead to the bullpen getting over-extended every 5 days.

Jingles

also, signing penny for such a small amt of money means the giants can use a quick trigger finger & unload penny without batting an eye if penny turns out to a problem as some fans are saying is doomed to happen.

at any rate, everyone can at least hope that things turn out well!

wfan1

I don’t like Penny. Harden was available altho he tends to get hurt but when healthy Harden can be great.

GiantsWinWest

Andrew,

Any news on Trevor Hoffman and the Giants waiver claim??

llama

finally a move that makes sense…now how can we get rid of Rowand?

Jingles

and how awesome would it be to see a healthy randy johnson come out of the pen (like he did during with the d-backs in the playoffs) with what’s still one of the filthiest left handed sliders in baseball

Jingles

harden ended up NOT being available because the cubs played decently this past week and the cubs decided not to give up any pitching.

as for hoffman, the brewers already said hoffman is going nowhere.

Chris from Atlanta

#12, LOL

M

Anyone that hates the Dodgers should be welcomed with open arms. Didn’t he start an all star game not too long ago?

Jingles

@24 he started in 06 and was on the AS staff in 07

dave

Bosox need pitching and but still release Penny. He’s given up 27 runs in his last 26 innings,,,,what happened?? was “the book out” on him.Only thing agree is he’s cheap.
Andrew ! Funny. Now all they need is Carl Bavano and its a Milano trifecta

TheGuru

Nothing motivates a professional player more than money. This is a 30 salary drive for Penny. He is a free agent and pitching in big games gives him national exposure. This could be a 10 million dollar month for Penny.

TheGuru

I also noticed that Ryan Freel was released. He would also be a great pickup. Veteran player that can play 3B, 2B and all 3 outfield positions. Was a .270 hitter when given the opportunity. He would help the bench and can steal a base. A stolen base in tight games can be huge. Would give Boch some bench flexability.

GiantExpert

If Giants fans can give Barry Zito a curtain call, they can accept a jerk like Penny.

GiganteFan

Baggs, I’m guessing two-fifths of the MLB has dated Alyssa Milano.

GiantManinVTA

I look forward to the Phenomena of washed up AL pitcher becoming NL All Star kicking in with this pickup (i.e. Smoltz and Padilla). If it works for Giants like it has for Cards and dodgers then wildcard here we come.

http://www.fanaticteeshop.com Roy

low risk move. I likes it! Plus anyone who has ever played any sport knows that when you face your oldt eam you want to make sure you beat them…Thst good for us…As a #5 starter, it’s a great move at a cheap price.

andrew

Hey, Sanchez, Penny, Lincecum, Zito, Cain…

I don’t know about you guys but I just had a non-sexual orgasm. If Penny can be solid, 7ip, 3er, that would be great. Hope his attitude is not as lame as we’ve heard.

Giants Fans Are So Tired

What the hell?

Giants fans giving Zito a curtain call? Giving Kent a standing-o? Approving of a Sabean deal and the last few Bochy lineups?

Penny’s ERA close to six the past two years just keeps staring me in the face….

TheGuru

I agree. To much agreement on this site today. Are we getting soft??

Why the hell didn’t Winn play yesterday? Complete BS Bochy. What an idiot.

good move

What’s there NOT to like about this? This is a good signing. There hardly any risk involved here.

1) We’re paying him reportedly 75k for the rest of the year.
2) We don’t lose prospects.
3) He’ll be an experienced upgrade from the likes of Martinez, Sadowski, and the Sept callups.
4) If he gets tattooed, it would likely be the same outcome with Sadowski, Martinez, and the minor leaguers.

We’re not losing much. However, we can gain a while lot. If he’s even close to old form, we got someone who can contribute to the postseason run and beyond. Let’s go giants!

Jingles

Lol guru.

StevieB

Wow, I didnt know we had Linc/Zito/Cain set up AGAIN for the next COL series, sounds great! As for Penny, hopefully he’s got a few wins left in him. He’ll pry get knocked around in Philly tho.

Livermore Tim

Look, Vicente Padilla just signed to shore up the Dodgers rotation last week; he’s supposedly was a clubhouse cancer in Texas — For $75k, Penny will be a fine addition for the next month…then it’s off to free agency over winter looking for a multi-year deal. If he wins, the Giants win, and the Rockies and Dodgers lose…

It’s a win win win… (thanks Michael Scott).

LongTimeGiantsFan

Sabaen signed a DODGER? I don’t believe it! what a stupid move. Why sign a DODGER when Buster Posey is wasting away in the minors? Why is Sabaen so in love with veterans that he won’t give a rookie a shot?

Giants Fans Are So Tired

LOL. I think I’ll bookmark this page so we can relive all the love and hugs when Sabean signs Penny in the offseason to a 3-year, $25 million deal.

BigJ

Great pickup. Unless we bring up a minor league phenom who is actually ready to pitch against the big boys (and admit it, we know nothing about Bumgarner at this level, we can only hope) bringing a former All-Star and low cost is a great great move. Martinez and Sadowski were nice, but they have things to work on and were definitely “found out” but other teams.

Sure his ERA has been bad but he has a career post .500 record and knows this division well.

BigJ

#42…what the heck does this have to do with Posey? Nothing at all. And when it comes to shoring up a rotation you don’t bring up a rookie in September in a playoff race.

B

this will be our best #5 starter in at least a decade folks. This guy was an all-star two years ago and he hates the dodgers…..for less than 1/180th of zitos price tag…great move…..he can be gone in a heart beat if he becomes a problem in the clubhouse, but something tells me the guys in that clubhouse aint gonna take anyones s.hitty attitude…go g-men….its always fun when you are winning.

andrew

I refuse to let today end without whining about Rowand. Absolute garbage on every swing. This guy should be batting 10th. That’s right I said 10th.

Ricky

#42 and #43 .. quiet already.
Penny is a good pick-up. He played for the Dodgers, so what.

How can anybody think that this is the time for Posey to start his career? Only if you want to ruin it.. Let him start in April when the record is 0-0 and a mistake won’t ruin 6 months of work by his teammates.

Philip

I agree with gm. Sadowski did a decent job, especially in the Milwaukee game when he stopped a two-game Giant skid against the Brewers. Maybe the Giants want to give him more learning time in the minors? I think it’s a good idea to push Timmy back a day. He has thrown more than 120 pitches 5 times this season with the two back to back games against the Rockies at 121 and 127 pitches each.

Playball

This has nothing to do with Penny, but what does Posey have to prove in the winter league this off season? Its taken him about 10 games to get to .300 at every level and then he stays there and adds power. I don’t understand not giving him a September callup. I’ll sign off on the Penny pick up, as long as it doesnt turn into the 3 yrs and $25m that #43 speaks of. Shuddered after reading that post cuz its so beyond possible its scary

http://www.bridges-law.com drew

Giants management and ownership just stepped up and shouted: We’re In This Thing. Penny should be clearly better than Padilla and any fifth starter option the Giants otherwise have; by all reports he is throwing mid-90′s, he is familiar with the NL West and dislikes the blue vermin down south. He will not be a locker room problem this year – this is Lincecum and Cain’s team on the mound and, though his hitting hasn’t been what we’ve needed lately, Rowand isn’t going to take any s___t er stuff in the clubhouse. And, Rowand will be followed by Molina, Renteria Aurilia and the Big Unit to discuss matters with Penny, if necessary. This is a great low risk move and the Giants are better today than they were yesterday.

Victor

even if he’s as bad as martinez you lose absolutely nothing except for money. it doesnt damage the giants future at all. he’ll probably be much better away from the AL. pity the giants couldnt make a reasonable move for hoffman… that would have been special

Regulus3333

this team is winning despite Bochy and Sabean getting in the way….this team has a ton of heart…

I’m worried about Sanchez and Garko taking the spots of Uribe and Ishikawa…..

Uribe and Ishi are winners, they will get us to the playoffs….I have nothing against Sanchez and Garko, but Uribe and Ishi need to start….

pretty much my only concern….

andrew

Sadowski and Martinez are fine on a crappy pitching staff. The standards are too high here.

“I’m worried about Sanchez and Garko taking the spots of Uribe and Ishikawa…..

Uribe and Ishi are winners, they will get us to the playoffs….I have nothing against Sanchez and Garko, but Uribe and Ishi need to start….”

I’m sorry but you are worried about a batting champion taking over for Uribe? Uribe has been on a nice streak, but the guy is STREAKY as hell. Ishikawa is a winner? Since when…?

GiantExpert

Regulus, Do the Giants have two guys named Ishikawa on the team? Because the one named Travis Ishikawa sucks.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a slower bat than his. Even when Willie Mays was so old and decrepit that he had to sit in the bullpen between innings because he couldn’t make it all the way to the dugout, he had a quicker, more authoritative bat than Travis “Excuse me, Lord, while I try to slap this ball to left field” Travis Ishikawa.

B

It just occured to me that if we get into the playoffs we will have a solid 3 man rotation with 3 starters ready to go on stand by.
We start

Timmy
Cain
Zito (with the way he has been dealing)

And we have Penny, Sanchez and Johnson ready to go in relief roles if we need to pinch hit in the early innings.

And yes we need to give Posey a call up, the kid has hit .300 at every level so far. Get him and Bumgarner up to get a taste of this positive movement. Bowker, Torres, Downs, Guzman, Jauquin, Matos and maybe Frandsen (if he doesnt whine)

Jingles

what will be great about sanchez coming back at 2B is that uribe will probably play about as much as he’s playing now, but he’ll be doing it by giving the other infielders days off to keep them fresh through to (hopefully) the post-season.

Easy Money

Penny had a 6.28 era last season with the Dodgers and a 7.82 era this season since the all-star break with Boston. Plus he cleared waivers, meaning every single team in MLB passed on the opportunity to claim him in exchange for a prospect.

Are we really supposed to be excited about this a**clown?

Hop

No way Uribe should start over Sanchez, I don’t know what your smoking.

andrew

We can’t lose with Penny in the sense that, he can’t be any worse than Martinez and the Big Sado. At least he has experience and now he’s pitching with a chip on his shoulder. Lets not forget, he’s pitching at friendly AT&T park folks.

Jingles

this is interesting. from espn:

“The Chicago White Sox look to be throwing in the towel.

The team distributed a memo to a number of teams in the league on Monday informing them that some Chicago veterans are available in trade, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.

For everyone who says Posey should get a Sept callup — do you know anything about baseball? He’s a catcher, and catchers have the longest haul in the minors. It’s not about his bat, it’s how he calls a game and handles the staff. If he got the callup it would be the FASTEST callup for a catcher in MLB for the last 20 years. Relax. Posey will be in the bigs next year.

and the White Sox just put Dye on the market. Pick him up and let Posey get better in the minors.

JZ

Just read that on ESPN #61… I bet anything the White Sox would trade Jermaine Dye for Scott Wheeler and Alderson… Thats my only frustration with the Brian Sabean era… It seems we jump the gun for players when someone else could be had for cheaper and/or better player at a later date… I just hope we are actually talking to The White Sox to see if even Thome is to be had for fairly cheap…

andrew

GiantExpert,

We haven’t agreed much but I def agree with Ishikawa report. The guy annoys the hell out of me with his swing. There is a time to swing, and there is a time to just hack the friggin ball as hard as you can. His swing is very linear, meaning it does not adjust to pitches, it is just flat and out over the plate. In other words, if the pitcher does not make a mistake like right over the middle, there is no way in hell he is going to hit the ball.

totalfan62

@ #56 (B):

Are you serious, or is this just a post to see if we’re paying attention?

First, long gone are the days when three starters worked the post-season. Five-man rotation means four days rest, especially at the end of the season. Even with extra days for TV manipulation we will need four starters.

We should stay with Lincecum-Zito-Cain-Sanchez. Not only righty-lefty-righty-lefty, but Zito’s off-speed stuff will mess with hitters between Timmy and Cainer. That also gives us Timmy in a game #5 in first series, and Cainer in game #7 in others. I shudder to post this…let’s make the playoffs first!

Second, for all you guys who keep saying we should bring up MadBum or Posey, see post #48. That is exactly correct–you do not bring up young kids in the heat of a pennant race (see 1993, Salomon Torres). Start fresh in 2010 with a strong spring and a whole year to learn what the majors are about.

If Penny brings his reportedly cancerous attitude into the Giants’ clubhouse, he’ll have to deal with Rowand. That guy is intense – and say what you want about his downside, this team has adopted his “crash into the wall” attitude.

Add RJ to the mix and look at this staff: Lincecum, Zito, Cain, Sanchez, Penny & Randy Johnson out of the pen when needed.

This really is the team nobody wants to draw in the playoffs!

Wupuck

I have to say I like this move. The more I think about it that is.
Supposedly he’s pitched very well against the Rockies in the past (haven’t looked up the numbers) and he has a chip on his shoulder for how things ended w/ the Dodgers.

If he can keep his head on straight, the Giants have a Middle of the order starter, picking up the 5th game.

GiantExpert

The White Sox are idiots. What contending team would want to make a deal for a player who can’t even be on the postseason roster unless the deal is done in the next few hours? How much is any team going to give up at this point?

Jay

Penny could be good or bad, but it’s still more assuring than Sadowski and Martinez.

TheGuru

If Sabean can get Dye for 2 mid prospects go for it.

andrew

Saloman Torres didn’t do well because he is not very good. I don’t buy into this notion that a guy is so fragile that a rough spot at the beginning in the big leagues ruins his entire career. Even if that was the case, would you want a pitcher like that on your team? I wouldn’t. My thinking has always been that when a guy gets roughed up, it’s humbling to him and he goes back and tries even harder to succeed.

You guys completely over-rate the cancer thing. One guy isn’t going to ruin a team. Look at A’s teams in the 70′s and 80′s or Kent and Bonds. You don’t have to be friends. This isn’t little league. You got a job to do, do it. Grown men are playing, not a bunch of look over your shoulder wimps.

GiantExpert

Agreed, Guru. I’ve never understood why fans care whether the millionaires get along with their coworkers. I don’t care if anybody here gets along with their coworkers, none of you cares if I get along with mine.

But everybody is so concerned about whether Brad Penny and Aaron Rowand will get along.

Hey millionaires, just do your damn jobs. I don’t give a rat if you guys grab a cheesesteak together in Philly or not.

TheGuru

Unbelievable trade!!!! ESPN is reporting the Giants just acquired Stephen Jackson from the Warriors for Rowand.

bigbullship

Dye and Thome are avail…Giants should try and get both!…or either one would be a VAST improvement..esp vs the phillies in the playoffs

UglyFinder

#75 I have to admit, that was funny.

NWgiantsfan

Somewhere, the ghost of Candy Maldanado is pleased.

BG

What Major Leaguer hasn’t dated Millano?

BG

Guru@75

Jackson hits better than Rowand. Just ask the fan he went Gansta on a few years back.

SocalGiant

Another play-off drive killer! We do not need him! Unless it was a move to block the Rockies.

wan8iv

Penny may do better in the NL than the AL East.

Stephen Jackson for Rowand sounds interesting don’t let Sabean
see this thread or that guy would do it.

wan8iv

Are the Toronto Blue Jays pitiful or what watching them blow a
11-0 lead to Texas. It’s 11-10 in 8th

wan8iv

Post #64 JZ you are so right about Sabean

llama

I’m all for S. Jackson in center field…ANYONE but Rowand is fine with me….what the hell, put Manute Bol out there.